Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Halifax vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
East Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($381k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Buzzards Bay | Halifax | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
7,748Highest |
2,166Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
52.1±6.4 30% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$81,042±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$381,200±$30kLowest 32% below MA |
| Halifax and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,142±$33Lowest 35% below MA |
| Halifax and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,430 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.